Reviews by Friends of richelmore

PattyTherre says "Nine tasty soda flavored lip balm tins to keep or share!" about Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set

PattyTherre — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:22:55 GMT

Quick View: This gift set of ten soda flavored lip balms is tasty, hydrating, and fun. Keep some and give some away or keep them all! I got a great deal on these at HSN.com. They were on sale for just $10.00 a set. They're incredibly tasty in flavors i remember as a kid.

My Take on Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set

This set comes boxed and has nine separate time of old school Swhweppes soda flavors. The balms are tinted in the tins but have very little color on the lips. Although they have a novelty look to them, they contain good ingredients like organic extra virgin olive oil, organic coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, rosemary and Vitamin E. And boy do they taste great!

You get the following:

# .35 oz. Schweppes' Cider SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Dry Grape Ginger Ale SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Raspberry Ginger Ale SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Black Cherry Seltzer SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Sarsaparilla...

...

PattyTherre says "A VERY sweet soap that doesn't strip my hands like the others." about Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple

PattyTherre — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:46:55 GMT

Quick View: I like Bath & Body Works' hand soaps and I recently bought nine different scents and types (I had a great coupon!). One that I bought was Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple. Normally I'm not a fan of the deep cleansing soaps and go for the moisturizing ones but I didn't see this scent in the moisturizing hand soap area so I bought the deep cleansing one. It is VERY sweet but doesn't seem to dry my hands out like the other deep cleansing soaps from BBW.

My Take on Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple

I never smelled this scent but I knew candy apples are very sweet. I guess the name intrigued me. Winter Candy Apple. Is there a difference between summer and winter candy apples? I had to know so I bought the hand soap.

When I first tried this eight ounce pump soap, I was overwhelmed with the sweet candy scent. I smelled no apple at all, just the candy coating that the apples are dipped into. It...

...

PattyTherre says "Everything's better when it's baked - even blush! " about Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact, Golden Apricot

PattyTherre — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:08:08 GMT

Quick View: I have been a fan of Laura Geller's line of cosmetics for years. Her line of baked products is great. I have TONS of blushes but tend to stick with rosy hues. I decided it was time for a change so I picked up Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact in Golden Apricot. I thought I would look orange it doesn't at all. I love this shade and the formula is really great. I'll be buying more shades soon.

My Take on Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact, Golden Apricot

This blush is baked and has a somewhat uneven texture. It isn't one color throughout. There are shades of deeper apricot and lighter all swirled within the compact. I like that because blush really shouldn't be one flat color. A little variation makes skin look better and the blush look more realistic.

This compact of hard packed blush looks peachy but also has deeper apricot hues. I was totally afraid that my pale olive skin would look like a pumpkin when I applied the blush. To the contrary, the shade actually...

...

AnnaBanana says "Destined to brighten the corner where they are." about Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers

AnnaBanana — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:48:11 GMT

I am second to none in my appreciation of electricity and the illumination it has provided us so faithfully at the flip of a switch. With that said, I must admit that I am also a sucker for candlelight as well ... and if you like candles, you will love Colonial Candles of Cape Cod. They are expensive but well worth the money, delivering clean, extensive and smooth "burn time." I have bought the Classic Tapers (8") in a beautiful Amber (or "rust" color) but my favorites are the 6" Hand-Dipped Tapers which were available in a delicate shell pink color which matched the Winter Peach painted walls in my bedroom perfectly.

Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers (6" size) cost $27 for a box of 12 and fit perfectly into the "hurricane lamp" candle holders on my bedroom dresser. They have helped to get me through some dark electricity power outages and they lend a cozy ambience to any occasion. Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers come in 44 colors and...

...

PattyTherre says "I can't drink this but it's an effective throat soother for you!" about Yogi Tea Throat Comfort Organic, Caffeine Free Tea

PattyTherre — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:55:09 GMT

Quick View: I discovered this tea while browsing around online and, because I have sore throats a lot in the winter, bought a box. As it happens, I got a sore throat soon after and tried the tea. It's not bad and does sooth my throat. I can't drink it though because it lowers my potassium level. However, in general, this tea is safe and effective.

My Take on Yogi Tea Throat Comfort, Organic, Caffeine Free Tea

This tea comes16 bags to a box and is naturally caffeine free. It has natural sweetness to it and it tastes like black licorice. I don't like that taste very much but, with a little honey and lemon, the tea is just fine. When I drank it, my throat was coated and soothed. My mucus membranes opened up and my sinuses drained which relieved my stuffy head.

This tea can be drank as often as one wants and kids can benefit from it as well. It contains nothing artificial and has a blend of many herbs and spices to coat, soothe, and relieve sore, scratchy throats. Singers and speakers often...

...

PattyTherre says "Watch out Carmex, you have stiff competition from ChapStick!" about ChapStick Fresh Effects Lip Balm - Invigorating Green Tea Mint

PattyTherre — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:57:44 GMT

Quick View: In New York, you need lip balm. Period. The summers parch your lips and the winters dehydrate and chap them. I have a tin of so many balms, you'd think I was ... a lip products junkie! And I am. However, I sometimes need more than a pretty color or flavor on my lips. I need deep hydration. I get that and more with ChapStick Fresh Effects Lip Balm - Invigorating Green Tea Mint. And it's inexpensive!

My Take on ChapStick Fresh Effects Lip Balm - Invigorating Green Tea Mint

This lip balm comes in the traditional stick form and is clear. It glides on easily. It isn't waxy like the original ChapStick. It's quite thick and immediately starts working. I can feel it tingle like crazy! The mint is strong and actually wakes up my senses. Although there is no flavor in this balm, the scent is great. I love tingly balms like Carmex and ChapStick Fresh Effects Lip Balm - Invigorating Green Tea Mint rivals even Carmex's tingle.

My dry lips feel protected and hydrated and the balm lasts for...

...

AnnaBanana says "Beautiful glassware that you don't have to worry about." about Libbey Charisma Hoops 24-Piece Tumbler Set

AnnaBanana — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:52:37 GMT

This all started last year when Linens 'N Things announced that they would be going out of business during the first part of 2009. Their store here in Oak Park was quickly picked to the bare bones but clearance fever (with all sales final) ratcheted on up at the LNT website as I grabbed new towels, a roasting pan which proved to be a lemon, and lastly, a set of 24 Libbey Glass Charisma Hoops Tumblers for $7.95. The glassware was the last thing I ordered on clearance from LNT and when they arrived, I signed for them, took them in, shoved the box to one side in my hallway, and there they have sat ever since until a couple days ago! That box was the last thing I saw when I left for the West Coast in May and the first thing I saw upon my return. Meanwhile, I continued to make do with the weird assortment of glassware remnants composed of survivors from other matched sets and garage sale finds from the old days.

Recently, I finally worked up the ambition to clean out my kitchen cabinets...

...

AnnaBanana says "A nice breakfast that provides energy all day." about Starbucks Sunrise Lowfat Red Raspberry Muffin

AnnaBanana — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:38:44 GMT

There I was in that "new" Starbuck's at 711 Lake Street, clutching my Fruit and Cheese Plate and waiting for my beverage order. I've got to admit that nobody held me down and made me check out the pastries but I wanted to take something home for breakfast the next day ... a Sunrise Lowfat Red Raspberry Muffin.

This is a lovely, medium-sized muffin made of basic yellow batter. It looked like the baker had put a little batter in the bottom of the muffin pan, topped it with a generous helping of fresh raspberries, another spoonful of batter and a little streusel topping. The fresh berries provided a nice tart flavor which complemented and enhanced the muffin's sweetness.

STATS:

Each muffin is a single serving containing 340 calories with 50 calories from fat. There are 6 grams Total Fat, 1.5 gram Saturated Fat, zero Trans Fat, 50 mg. Cholesterol, 500 mg. Sodium, 65 Total Carbs, 2 grams Fiber, 37 grams Sugars, and 7 grams Protein along with 2% (D.V.) Vitamin A, 25% Vitamin C, 8% Calcium...

...

AnnaBanana says "Very refreshing!" about Starbucks Fruit and Cheese Plate

AnnaBanana — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:03:38 GMT

The other day I shopped a little at our Trader Joe's in Oak Park and walked back home, only to discover along the way a Starbuck's I had somehow been overlooking. Good grief! I had never realized there was a Starbuck's at 711 Lake Street and was frankly a bit surprised since there is ANOTHER Starbuck's on the other side of Lake Street down near the Lake Theatre. Having two such shops that close together is unusual and I couldn't resist entering this "new" one to have a look at what they were offering.

After ordering a beverage, I peeked at their chilled food selections and was a bit disappointed. What they had to offer in the line of salads and sandwiches was somewhat less than an overflowing cornucopia (on the other hand, it was late in the afternoon which may have made a difference). I did see something I hadn't tried before ... the Starbucks Fruit and Cheese Plate.

This is a rectangular covered dish containing 220 grams of apple wedges, green and purple grapes, a package...

...

PattyTherre says "I believe in fish oil but I don't want to taste it constantly!" about PharmAssure Fish Oil 1000mg Softgel Capsules

PattyTherre — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:57:35 GMT

Quick View: I strongly believe that fish oil is a necessary supplement for nearly everyone and I take them daily. When I ran out of my Natrol Fish Oil Softgel Capsules, I asked my husband to pick me up another bottle. He came home with PharmAssure Fish Oil 1000mg Softgel Capsules. They were the same as far as active ingredients, milligrams, and even how they looked so I took them. Ugh. Every time I belch or even hiccup I taste fish. GROSS. Back to Natrol for me!

My Take on PharmAssure Fish Oil 1000mg Softgel Capsules

My Natrol Fish Oil softgel caps have lemon oil in them so I never have a "fish burp" which, as anyone who takes fish oil knows, is a side effect of this very healthy supplement. It's a gross side effect.

The PharmAssure Fish Oil 1000mg Softgel Capsules come in several bottle sizes and my husband got me the large 180 count bottle of these things. I usually take two a day but I have been taking one because the fishy taste and even SMELL of these softgels is just too much for...

...

PattyTherre says "Sweet & tart lemon body butter hydrates skin and lifts spirits!" about Avon mark Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Body Butter

PattyTherre — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:13:40 GMT

Quick View: When fellow Viewpointer ApriBambino wrote about all of the Avon mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scented products, I knew I had to try them. I love citrus scents, lemon especially, and was in the mood for something new. I had never tried any of mark's (Avon's "younger" products) body products and would never have even known this body butter existed. I am so glad I bought it and the spray. It is light, tart, sweet, and just what I needed to boost my spirits and hydrate my skin.

My Take on Avon mark Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Body Butter

This body butter comes in a 6.7 ounce squat tub. It is thick and rich but not quite as thick as body butters from The Body Shop and Bath & Body Works. Still it has plenty of richness and a little goes a long way. It is a creamy white color and smells divine. It has definite lemon notes with a sweet sugary fragrance as well that makes it both tart and sweet at the same time.

Avon mark Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Body Butter hydrates my skin well with no greasiness....

...

AnnaBanana says "Part of the same family, but a different character altogether." about Campbell's Select Harvest Garden Recipes Zesty Tomato Bisque

AnnaBanana — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:19:09 GMT

A few days ago, I did a review of Campbell's Select Harvest Chicken Noodle Soup. There were some good things about that product but basically I was underwhelmed. Imagine my chagrin then to discover more of the same family of products on my shelf. Yes, not only had I bought two of the chicken noodle microwaveable bowls but in a weak moment I had also been suckered into buying a couple cans of Campbell's Select Harvest Garden Recipes Zesty Tomato Bisque Soup. (What some people won't do to save a dollar when something goes on sale!)

At first, I was going to craftily save it to donate to a holiday food drive but curiosity got the better of me and I tried this soup. I'm glad that I bought this (and I will be giving something ELSE to the food drive). I like the flavor of this soup which is basically a bisque which gains character from chunks of tomato. It has a lot of body to it and did not seem to be a bit bland (one of the major complaints in the reviews about the Select Harvest...

...

PattyTherre says "May work for mild dark circles but can't tackle my tough ones!" about Freeman Professional Vita-K Solution for Dark Circles

PattyTherre — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:43:45 GMT

Quick View: Vitamin K does help dark circles and other skin discolorations and this serum is inexpensive at $15.00 for a one half ounce jar. It didn't help my very dark inherited circles but I have a feeling it will be effective for those battling mild or even moderate ones. Nothing will REMOVE shadows and circles but this product at least doesn't cost a fortune to try to lighten them up some!

My Take on Freeman Professional Vita-K Solution

Because I have battled dark circles since I was a kid, I quickly can spot things that give away how effective a product really will be even before I buy it. Of course, that often doesn't stop me from trying new products in case they actually DO work. This serum's packaging and advertising says: "Light diffusing properties help reduce the appearance of Dark Circles."

Reduce the APPEARANCE OF dark circles. In other words, this doesn't actually work to remove the circles, just make them less noticeable by reflecting light away from them. But even that would...

...

PattyTherre says "Smashbox O-Gloss: Pricey, confused color adapt gloss." about Smashbox O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss with Goji Berry-C Complex

PattyTherre — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:47:06 GMT

Quick View: Smashbox products are very hit and miss with me. This clear gloss is supposed to adapt to your natural lip color and enhance the shade. It does. Sometimes.

My Take on Smashbox O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss with Goji Berry-C Complex

This little pricey tube of clear gloss goes on smoothly and does feel lightweight and glossy. It starts out colorless but very quickly develops into a pink shade which is supposed to change on everyone's lips depending on their color. I have fairly rosy lips to start out with and I expected this gloss would enhance that rosiness and look natural.

Well, the first time I tried it, I got a gross super bright pink shade. Not good. The second time, though, I got a very subtle, warm pink shade that did look nice. The gloss didn't last all that long and when it faded, left behind a slight ring around my lips.

I didn't taste anything nasty and the scent is decent. The gloss CAN look quite pretty but I never know when that will be. I either get neon pink, pretty...

...

JovialCougar says "Put a jolt in your life with vinyl electrical tape" about Scotch Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape

JovialCougar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:53:25 GMT

I've done some very minor electrical work around my house and needed electrical tape. I ended up buying the best right from the beginning: Scotch Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape.

Why is electrical tape needed? First off, it does not conduct an electrical current, so if somehow there is an electrical exposure, it will not be carried forward by this tape. Also, wires can, over time, get chaffed if they touch some other surface. The tape will protect the wiring from chaffing, eventual wire exposure, and the risk of an electrical fire.

Vinyl electrical tape should be wrapped around wires with some overlap. The tape wrapping should be taunt but not extremely tight. This tape can be stretched somewhat as needed. Just remember to turn off electrical current when dealing with wires!

This particular roll is ¾ inch wide and 7 mil thick. In case you didn't know, it is black and very sticky. One drawback to using electrical tape for other purposes is that it leaves behind a residue when...

...

JovialCougar says "Target's self-assemble furniture misses the mark" about Target Manhattan Side Table

JovialCougar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:43:29 GMT

I've been looking for a small table for quite some time, and when I spotted a collection of self-assemble tables at a Target store, they got my attention. I ended up buying the Target Manhattan Side Table, which cost about $99.

This side table has a dark finish of Ash veneer (which they call Espresso) and measures 23 inches in height, and 20 inches in length and width. It has one drawer and one open shelf near the bottom. The drawer has a nice-looking brushed-nickel draw pull.

This table is very nice looking in my viewpoint, and was just about the right size for what I needed. It was also easy to put together - taking less than 1 hour using two screwdrivers, and I was watching a movie while assembling it! The directions were pretty easy to follow too.

On the downside the table did not assemble quite right. The worst part is that some of the drill holes for attaching the drawer to the drawer rail are missing. Now I have to go back and drill the holes myself before attaching the drawer. ...

...

AnnaBanana says "At last, a bran muffin for people who don't like bran muffins!" about Starbucks Apple Bran Muffin with Omega 3's & 7 g Fiber

AnnaBanana — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:16:54 GMT

I must confess that as a rule I tend to look askance at cereals, muffins or breads which contain BRAN. It's not that bran tastes BAD as much as overwhelmingly nutritious, virtuous and BORing! When I do eat bran foods, I usually do so grimly and feeling rather proud of myself for choking down something which is good for me. In case you feel that way about bran, I have good news. Now there is a bran muffin for people who don't think they like bran muffins -- namely, the Starbucks Apple Bran Muffin with Omega 3's & 7 g Fiber.

This medium-sized muffin contains many ingredients, including: whole wheat flour, brown sugar, water, whole eggs, apples, wheat bran, honey, dried cherries, soybean oil, dried cranberries, raisins, rolled oats, unsalted butter, quick oats, molasses, nonfat milk powder, salt, baking powder, calcium carbonate, ground cinnamon, sodium bicarbonate, natural flavor, vanilla extract, ground ginger, ground nutmeg and rosemary extract. This muffin is so moist and...

...

AnnaBanana says "Waking up with an old friend again!" about Lavoris Mouthwash - Original

AnnaBanana — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:51:51 GMT

While it may not be true that "everything old is new again," it still seemed exciting to me to revisit the spicy refreshing flavor of Lavoris Original Cinnamon Flavor Mouthwash this week. Yes, they still sell this stuff ($3.92 for 32 ounces at Drugstore.com and other places). For more than a hundred years, people have been rinsing their mouths with this bright mixture of its signature ingredient, Zantrate (a combination of zinc oxide, sodium hydroxide, and citric acid) flavored and empowered with cinnamon and cloves (spices which have been used fror thousands of years in Chinese herbal medicines to combat bad breath). Most of us who grew up in the 40's and 50's remember the dentist giving us a small paper cup of Lavoris to "rinse with" after dental cleanings.

With the passage of time and a more sophisticated point of view, many of us came to believe that anything which didn't taste horrible couldn't possibly be doing a good job as a mouthwash. In the intervening years, I have...

...

PattyTherre says "Hydrating but doesn't come close to living up to its hype." about Olay Pro X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream

PattyTherre — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:57:54 GMT

Quick View: I was sent a jar of Olay Pro X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream from a group called Vocalpoint that I belong to. I was excited to try this cream because, at 45, I want to stay as youthful as possible and this cream made promises of being AS EFFECTIVE as Retin A (although they can't say the name. They use "prescription wrinkle cream" when making comparisons). I was disappointed in its performance.

My Take on Olay Pro X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream

This cream is thick and very rich. It has a subtle fragrance and smooths on nicely. My face always felt soft and hydrated when I used the cream - and I used it every night for about 4 weeks. It did tend to pill a little for some reason but I used it at night so it really didn't matter.

As a smoothing, hydrating cream, Olay Pro X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream is great. It works well to add moisture to dry skin and to plump parched skin. I have no issues at all with how this product hydrates.

What I have issues about are the claims that this cream will rid...

...

JovialCougar says "Seal up your home with Polyseamseal" about Polyseamseal Tub and Tile Adhesive/Caulk

JovialCougar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:14:36 GMT

I've been doing some minor maintenance work in my bathroom and started using Polyseamseal Tub and Tile Caulk. This caulk is very helpful in sealing-up little gaps and cracks that can let moisture in which will cause huge problems in your home.

Polyseamseal Tub and Tile Caulk comes in large caulking tubes that require a caulking gun and smaller tubes that look like toothpaste tubes. I have the latter which holds 6 ounces. The tip is sealed and you'll need to snip it off when ready to go to work.

Before caulking make sure the area to be caulked in dry, clean, and you have the right color; Polyseamseal comes in White, Almond, and Clear. Also clean away any old caulk - don't try to cover it up!

Once you get the hang of it, laying down a bead of this adhesive is easy. Just squeeze the tube gently and steadily as you move along the area to be caulked with the tip touching the surface. It'll will flow out steadily and leave a trail of adhesive. Use a wet finger to smooth it out.

Why is caulk...

...